Q Alles gut bei dir? — You doing okay?
- A Ja, bin bisschen beschwipst. — Yeah, I'm a bit tipsy.
- A Alles super, erst zwei Bier. — All good — only two beers in.
They'll say Dann Prost. — Cheers, then.
How drunk are you? (Germany)
The whole ladder, and the moments where you have to pick a rung out loud.
Short answerIn Germany, say beschwipst — Tipsy, in the nicest way — from schwippen, to sway.
Von beschwipst bis Schnapsleiche.
German grades drunkenness finely and nobody is coy about it. Naming your rung honestly is normal, and it is how people decide whether to put you in a taxi.
The scale, bottom to top
- beschwipstTipsy, in the nicest way — from schwippen, to sway.
- angeheitertMerry — the polite one, safe at a work party.
- einen sitzen habenTo have had a few — literally "to have one sitting".
- blau seinTo be drunk — literally "to be blue".
- betrunkenDrunk — the standard, neutral word.
- besoffenPlastered — informal, a bit crude, very common.
- hacke dichtBerlinHammered — Berlin's own, and said with some pride.
- sturzbetrunkenFalling-down drunk.
- eine SchnapsleicheSomeone who has gone under — literally a "schnapps corpse".
- total durch seinCompletely gone.
Saying where you're at
Q Wie viel hast du schon? — How much have you had?
- A Drei — ich hab einen sitzen. — Three — I've had a few.
They'll say Geht noch, oder? — Still all right, though?
Q Ich glaube, ich bin blau. — I think I'm drunk.
- A Trink mal Wasser. — Have some water.
Q Noch einen Kurzen? — Another shot?
- A Nee, ich bin schon gut dabei. — Nah, I'm well on my way already.
They'll say Kein Ding. — No worries.
"Gut dabei sein" is the graceful refusal — it admits you're drunk without making it a problem.
Q Bei mir ist Schluss. — I'm done for the night.
- A Dann hör auf, ist doch okay. — Then stop — that's completely fine.
Q Ist dein Freund okay? — Is your friend okay?
- A Der ist ziemlich besoffen, ich bring ihn heim. — He's pretty plastered — I'm taking him home.
They'll say Braucht ihr ein Taxi? — Do you two need a taxi?
Q Gestern war ich total durch. — I was completely gone last night.
- A Hab ich gemerkt. — I did notice.
Q Kommst du allein klar? — Can you manage on your own?
- A Ja, ich nehm ein Taxi. — Yes, I'll get a taxi.
- A Ehrlich gesagt nicht. — Honestly, no.
They'll say Ich bring dich. — I'll take you.
Slowing down & getting home
Q Willst du noch einen? — Want another one?
- A Ich mach mal Pause. — I'll sit one out.
They'll say Auch gut. — Fair enough.
Q Nur ein Wasser für mich, bitte. — Just a water for me, please.
- A Kommt. — Coming up.
Q Ich fahre, ich trinke nichts. — I'm driving — I'm not drinking.
- A Respekt. — Respect.
Germany's limit is 0.5, and 0.0 for your first two years of licence. "Ich fahre" ends the conversation — nobody pushes.
Q Komm schon, einen noch! — Come on, just one more!
- A Nee, wirklich nicht. — No — honestly, no.
They'll say Schon gut. — All right, all right.
Q Ich brauch was zu essen. — I need something to eat.
- A Döner um die Ecke? — Kebab round the corner?
Q Für mich war's das. — That's me done.
- A Soll ich mitkommen? — Shall I come with you?
Q Wasser dazwischen, ja? — Water in between, yeah?
- A Ja, gute Idee. — Yes, good idea.
They'll say Hol ich dir. — I'll get you one.
Q Kannst du mir ein Taxi rufen? — Could you call me a taxi?
- A Mach ich, warte drinnen. — I will — wait inside.